THE LATE MASSACRE ON THE PLAINS.
From The National Intelligencer, Dec. 10.
In the subjoined communication the reader will find the particulars of the late massacre by Indians of a portion of Capt. Gunnison's surveying party, on the Western Plains, which has been looked for with much interest:
WASHINGTON, Friday, Dec. 9, 1853. MESSRS. GALES & SEATON: Will you be good enough to give place in The National Intelligencer to a copy of a communication from Capt. E. M. Morris, United States Army, to his Excellency Gov. Young, which you will here with receive? Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN M. BERNHISEL, Delegate from Utah
IN CAMP, NEAR FILLMORE, U.T, Oct. 29, 1853. GOVERNOR: Deeming that it may be of interest to you, I hasten to send you a succinct account of the late terrible massacre which occurred in this vicinity on the morning of the 26th instant. On the morning of the 25th instant, Capt. J. W. Gunnison, with a portion of his scientific party, an escort of seven men, and Mr. William Potter of Manti, as guide, left our camp on Sevier for the purpose of surveying the lakes. The same morning I moved with the remainder of my command fourteen miles up the Se-vier, there intending to await the return of the late Capt. Gunnison. On the morning of the 26th, at 11 1/2 A. M., the non-commissioned officer in charge of the escort came running breathlessly into camp, saying that their party had been surprised, and he believed all had been killed. I immeddiately proceeded to the fatal spot with all the troops I had, in hopes of saving some of the party or res-cuing the wounded. On my way I met three or more of my men who had escaped, all of whom confirmed the sad intel-ligence, but knew not who had fallen. Pushing rapidly on, I reached at dark the spot where three of the party had fallen. Their bodies were filled with arrow wounds, though not otherwise mutilated. I halted my command here for the night, and waited until daylight, when I proceeded on. Reaching the vicinity of the camp, I found the remaining corpses of the party, all of which were stripped and some mutilated. Capt. Gunnison was killed by fifteen arrow wounds, and had his left arm cut off, Mr. Creutzfeldt had both arms cut off. The statement made by the survivors is as follows: That Capt. G. reached the first pond or lake at 3 P. M., on the 25th instant, and encamped between the lake and river, at a bend of the river, thickly fringed with willows; that the party arose at daybreak, and were in the act of breakfasting, when a terrific yell was raised on their left, accompanied by a discharge of rifles and a shower of arrows. The escort seized their rifles, and some shots were exchanged, when, finding that the Indians were rapidly closing around their little party, they all tried to reach their horses. Those who succeeded escaped, while those who failed fell. The lowest number of Indians is stated at sixty. The American party consisted of twelve men, all told.
NAMES OF KILLED.—Capt. J. W. Gunnison, Corps of Tep. Eng., U. S. A.; Mr. Wm. Potter, guide, Manti, U. T.; Mr. R. H. Kern, topographer of the party; Mr. Creutz-feldt, botanist of the party; Privates Caulfield, Liptrott, and Mehrteens, Company A, mounted riflemen; John Bel-lows, employé.
The Indians secured eight rifles, two double-barrel shot guns, seven pistols, and about one thousand rounds of cartridges or ammunition, all the scientific instruments with the party, and some of the notes of the survey, all of those of the Wahsatch Mountains, and in fact most of the sketches and topography between the San Rafael and this point.
In concluding this hasty note, permit me to make known my obligations to Mr. Richards and President Call, of the City of Fillmore, for their kind assistance in enabling me to send an express with this intelligence to the General Government and to your Excellency, I am, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant, It. M. MORRIS, Brevet Captain U. S. A.
To His Excellency Gov. BRIGHAM YOUNG, Utah Territory.
We add an extract of a letter from a member of the sur-viving party, addressed to his father in this city: FILLMORE CO., Utah Territory, Oct. 29, 1853. It is with great pain I have to inform you of the mur-der of Capt. Gunnison, Mr. R. H, Kern, Mr. Creutz-feldt, captain's servant Bellows, and three riflemen by the names of Caulfield, Mehrteens, and Liptrott. They left our camp on Sevier river on Tuesday morning, 25th instant, for the purpose of surveying Sevier Lake. They had proceeded some fifteen miles, and camped on the river, when they were attacked by a party of Indians, sup-posed to be the Parvants, on Wednesday morning, a little before sunrise, as they were at breakfast. The party consisted of twelve, four of whom escaped, (rifle-men.) We had moved our camp up the river, and in-tended to await their return where we received the ac-count of the attack by one of the men between 12 and 1 o'clock. As soon as the news was received Capt, Morris with his men proceeded as fast as possible to the spot, where he arrived at 5 P. M., but the Indians had fled. The bodies were found, Mr. Kern receiving only one ball, which passed though his heart, while Capt. Gunnison re-ceived fifteen arrows; the rest of the men were cut and butchered most horribly. Capt. Morris returned on Wednesday evening to our camp at Cedar Springs. This place we left on Sunday, and returned, after receiving the news, as quick as possible, as we would be more secure from an attack than at our former position. We will re-main at this place until Monday, and then proceed to Great Salt Lake City to await orders. I remain, yours af-fectionately,
JAMES A. SNYDER, Assistant Draghtsman.
